INDIANAPOLIS – The Illinois State volleyball team (5-1) used three sets to win the Top Dawg Challenge on Saturday night, taking down the host Butler Bulldogs (1-5). The Redbirds' 5-1 record marks their best start since the 2013 season.
Hometown hero Ali Line was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while teammates Monica Miller and Stef Jankiewicz were awarded a spot on the all-tournament team.
QUOTING COACH JOHNSON
On starting the season 5-1…
"Of course we love being 5-1, that's awesome, but as soon as we finished there, I immediately started thinking about our Washington State tournament coming up. I think that's the mentality of the team and part of the reason we are getting the results is we are very next-ball oriented, next-match oriented and it is never enough for us."
On what stands out about Redbird volleyball…
"Maturity and consistency. You just don't see us waiver. I think we are just so dialed in, and we are very unified on the court and off the court, and that's a pretty special thing."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Set 1 >> Illinois State took control early, trailing just once, and maintaining a five-point lead on a trio of kills by Marissa Stockman and Monica Miller. The Redbirds jumped to a 19-12 lead, forcing the Bulldogs to call a timeout. Out of the break, Butler responded with an unanswered point, but Illinois State quickly regained possession. With a 21-15 advantage, and Butler hitting just .067, the Redbirds continued to hammer the ball. A kill by Ali Line brought Illinois State to set point, before a tip over the net by Ella Francis sealed the opening frame, 25-19, for the Redbirds.Â
Set 2 >> The Redbirds jumped out to a 6-1 lead to start the second set, as the Bulldogs called a timeout after Kendal Meier delivered a pair of service aces. Butler began to chip away at Illinois State's lead, but a duel at the net in the middle pushed the Redbirds back out to a five-point advantage. The Bulldogs continued to close in on the Redbirds, coming within two points of Illinois State, before knotting the set at 11-all. Illinois State went on a 4-0 run, leading 15-11, but Butler continued to hang around. A kill by Francis helped Illinois State reach 20 first, before the Redbirds closed the second set on a 5-0 run for a 25-15 win.
Set 3 >> Illinois State carried its scoring streak over to the third set, as Sydney Holt opened the frame with her first kill of the night. Butler's 18th attack error of the match had the Redbirds sitting at a 10-5 advantage, before the Bulldogs pulled within two. A ball handling error by Butler, and Stockman's sixth kill of the match, forced the Bulldogs to call a timeout with the Redbirds ahead, 14-10. Illinois State maintained a four-point lead over the Bulldogs for most of the third set, before a pair of Butler errors pushed the Redbirds out to their largest lead of the set – a seven-point advantage. The Redbirds sealed its third-straight win, and the Top Dawg Challenge title, with a block by Lexi Varga and Stockman for a 25-18 third-set win.
LEADING THE FLOCK
UP NEXT
Illinois State will head west for the Cougar Challenge, hosted by Washington State University, in Pullman, Washington, Sept. 7-8. The Redbirds are set to face Stony Brook and the tournament host Cougars on Friday, before wrapping up their third tournament of the season on Saturday against McNeese.
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